Feel betrayed lately? Like your paragons of virtue just aren’t cutting it anymore? Oh, thank the heavens for Washington.

This week has seen the fall of Tom Daschle, the populist Democrat from South Dakota, who, until 2004, was known for his high ethical ground, his dedication to public service and his aversion to lobbying.

Too bad Obama couldn’t have tapped him for secretary of Health and Human Services in 2004.

Turns out that Daschle, in all his non-lobbying efforts, owed more than $140,000 in back taxes and interest for his free use of a car and driver that had been provided by a Democratic fundraiser who owned an equity firm, for which Daschle was the chairman of the advisory board. Daschle, for all his determination in not becoming a registered lobbyist, was content to sit back as a one-off and advise companies on how to best have their influence felt in Congress. The joy of semantics. It almost makes you long for Karl Rove, who at least made his “win at all costs” mentality known.

Daschle isn’t the only one to have his nomination take a turn for the worse. Chief  White House performance officer nominee Nancy Killefer had to pull her name out of the running because of unpaid taxes, and earlier this year Democratic good guy Bill Richardson had to withdraw his nomination on account of shady business dealings.

Obama’s vetting process was scary. Candidates interested in their jobs were supposed to reveal all the intimate and embarrassing details of their lives to that point. Syndicated columnists made fun of it, while otherwise-interested candidates didn’t go beyond picking up the application.

Turns out former generations didn’t need Facebook to document a less-than-spotless past.

The air is wheezing out of Obama’s hope balloon.

“I’ve got to own up to my mistake, which is that ultimately it’s important for this administration to send a message that there aren’t two sets of rules,” Obama told NBC News. “You know, one for prominent people and one for ordinary folks who have to pay their taxes.”

It’s at least refreshing that Obama can admit to his mistakes, but we question how much longer that subtlety will matter. Obama talks a big, ethical game; he’s either the one to follow through with it, or all politicians really are that corrupt. It’s time to put or shut up.